Outstretched wings

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Outstretched wings

October 30, 2020 by Mike Powell

It is hard to appreciate the length of the wings of a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) when it is standing in the water. When it takes off, however, the heron extends its wings fully and the sight is amazing, especially when the heron is flying away from you. This Great Blue Heron that I spotted on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge initially was standing on a small sandbar, but took to the air when it detected my presence. It started out heading away from me and gradually turned to my right as it gained altitude.

In case you are curious, the wingspan of a Great Blue Heron is 65.8-79.1 inches (167-201 cm), according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website. Wow!

Posted in Autumn, Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife | Tagged Ardea herodias, Canon 50D, Great Blue Heron, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, Woodbridge VA | 16 Comments

16 Responses

on October 30, 2020 at 9:21 am | Reply merrildsmith

Interesting! You may have seen that I have a bit of a thing for herons. 😀
- on October 31, 2020 at 6:26 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  🙂 Herons are one of the birds that I can watch for extended periods of time–partly because they stand motionless so much of the time, patiently waiting for the optimal moment to strike.
on October 30, 2020 at 10:09 am | Reply Dan Antion

I love the level shot at the bottom.
- on October 30, 2020 at 10:20 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. There are things I personally like about each one of the shots, but each has issues as well. The biggest problem was that the day was dark and cloud covered, so there was not much contrast in the images.
on October 30, 2020 at 11:19 am | Reply John Hric

Glorious shots of the heron in flight Mike ! Thanks
- on October 31, 2020 at 6:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, John. When it comes to capturing birds in flight, it sure helps that herons are big and relatively slow. 🙂
on October 30, 2020 at 2:38 pm | Reply mitzybricker

Nice captures, Mike.

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- on October 31, 2020 at 6:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy.
on October 30, 2020 at 3:14 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

They always make me think of pterodactyls!
- on October 31, 2020 at 6:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Yikes–flying dinosaurs. Why not? 🙂
on October 30, 2020 at 9:48 pm | Reply Rebecca Wallick

A wing span taller than me! Spectacular shots; I can feel the struggle of those first few wing strokes, fighting for elevation and lift.
on October 30, 2020 at 10:22 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

John used my word! Glorious! I found one in a secluded creek bend once raising a racket. My friend said it was likely a mating call? I laughed and laughed at that usually silent bird. When we used to canoe the heron would sense our presence and fly further ahead of us. When we caught up to the next perch it would circle back behind us. Rarely made a sound at all.
on October 31, 2020 at 8:58 am | Reply pattyanneart

Beautiful photos, Mike!
on October 31, 2020 at 4:40 pm | Reply nliakos

Once years ago I was in a canoe on Clopper Lake in Seneca Creek State Park (MD) when a Great Blue Heron took to the air right smack in front of us. OMG that wingspan was magnificent! I will never forget it.
on November 2, 2020 at 4:02 am | Reply krikitarts

Herons (and pelicans and gannets and albatross, and…and…and) are poetry in motion. Lovely shots, Mike.
- on November 2, 2020 at 8:16 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Gary. One of the great things about the big birds is that it is a whole lot easier to focus on them when they are flying. I almost drive myself crazy when I try to photograph the little birds in flight.